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Martin Jenkins

Martin Joseph Jenkins (born November 12, 1953) is an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the from December 2020 until his retirement at the end of October 2025. Prior to his elevation to the state's highest court, Jenkins held judicial positions on the for the Northern District of California from 1997 to 2008 and the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, from 2008 to 2019. He is recognized as the first openly gay associate justice on the and the third African American man to serve in that role. Jenkins began his legal career after earning a from in 1976 and a from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1980, following a brief stint as a for the in the during the 1977 preseason. His early professional experience included serving as a deputy in Alameda County from 1981 to 1983 and as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the from 1983 to 1985, before transitioning to private civil litigation at until 1989. Jenkins ascended the judicial ranks starting with appointments to municipal and superior courts in Alameda County in the early 1990s, culminating in his federal nomination by President in 1997. Throughout his over three-decade judicial tenure, Jenkins contributed to diverse caseloads across , appellate, and federal levels, earning recognition including the St. Thomas More Award in 2009 and the Award in 2022 for his service and advocacy in and . Appointed to the by Governor in 2020 and unanimously confirmed, Jenkins advised on judicial selections prior to his ascension, reflecting his extensive involvement in California's legal infrastructure before retiring after five years on the bench.

Early life and education

Family background and early years

Martin J. Jenkins was born in 1953 in , . He was raised in the city's Lakeview neighborhood in a working-class family. Jenkins' father served as a at , a San Francisco landmark, for 40 years, while his mother trained as a nurse but remained at home during his childhood. He has two siblings: a younger sister employed in and an older brother, a retired referee. As a , Jenkins assisted his father, who also worked as a city clerk and , in cleaning office buildings and churches after school, reflecting the family's modest circumstances. In later reflections, Jenkins described his early years as marked by self-doubt regarding his capabilities, despite diligence, attributing this in part to limited exposure to professional environments like . His parents, both deceased—mother in 1992 and father in 2005—lived to witness portions of his career achievements.

Academic and athletic pursuits

Jenkins earned an Associate of Arts degree from in 1973. He then attended , where he majored in history and received a degree in 1977. During his undergraduate years, Jenkins played as a on the team and served as its captain. Following graduation, Jenkins briefly pursued professional football, signing as a rookie with the of the in 1977. His time in the NFL was short-lived, after which he transitioned to . Jenkins enrolled at the School of Law, earning his degree in 1980 with honors. This academic achievement marked the culmination of his formal education, bridging his athletic background with a career in law.

Professional career

Pre-judicial legal roles

Following his graduation from the School of Law in 1980, Martin J. Jenkins commenced his legal career as a in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, serving from 1980 to 1981. In this role, he supported prosecutorial operations in a major county known for handling significant caseloads in criminal matters. Jenkins advanced to deputy in Alameda County from 1981 to 1984, where he prosecuted criminal cases before local courts, gaining experience in trial advocacy and evidentiary procedures. This position involved direct courtroom responsibilities, including presenting evidence and arguing before judges and juries in and prosecutions. In 1984, Jenkins transitioned to the federal level as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, holding the position until 1987. There, he litigated cases centered on racial violence and , often in high-stakes federal proceedings that required coordination across jurisdictions and adherence to constitutional standards under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and related statutes. His work contributed to enforcement actions addressing systemic civil rights violations, reflecting a prosecutorial focus on accountability for discriminatory practices.

Judicial appointments and service

Jenkins began his judicial career with an to the Oakland Municipal Court by Governor in 1989, where he served until 1992. In 1992, Governor Pete Wilson elevated him to the Alameda County Superior Court, on which he sat until 1997 and where he later became Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Division in 1995. In 1997, President nominated Jenkins on July 24 to the for the Northern District of , filling the seat vacated by Judge Eugene F. Lynch; the Senate confirmed the nomination on November 9, and he received his commission shortly thereafter, serving from November 1997 until April 2008. Governor appointed Jenkins as an associate justice to Division Three of the of Appeal, First Appellate District, effective January 25, 2008, succeeding Justice Joanne Parrilli; he served in this role from 2008 until 2019.

California Supreme Court tenure

Nomination and confirmation process

Governor nominated Martin J. Jenkins to serve as an associate justice on the California Supreme Court on October 5, 2020, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Ming W. Chin on August 31, 2020. The nomination followed California's judicial process, in which the governor selects candidates from a list provided by the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, and confirmation is handled by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, comprising the state , , and presiding justice of the relevant Court of Appeal district. The Commission on Judicial Appointments scheduled a public hearing for November 10, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. in the courtroom in . During the hearing, Jenkins was unanimously confirmed by the commission, with no reported opposition or significant debate. This confirmation made Jenkins the first openly gay associate justice in the court's history. Jenkins was sworn in virtually on December 8, 2020, administered by Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, marking the completion of his to the court. The process proceeded without delays or challenges, reflecting broad institutional support for the nominee's qualifications from prior federal and state judicial service.

Notable rulings and decisions

In California Capital Insurance Co. v. Hoehn (November 18, 2024), Jenkins authored the holding that Code of Civil Procedure section 473(d), which authorizes courts to vacate void judgments, imposes no statutory time limit, rejecting a judicially engrafted two-year restriction borrowed from section 473.5's provisions for voidable judgments due to lack of notice; the court reasoned that void judgments for extrinsic defects like improper service remain subject to collateral attack indefinitely, absent equitable considerations such as laches. Jenkins ed in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court (August 11, 2025), joining Justice Corrigan's view that an employer's untimely payment of fees under Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.98 mandates automatic vacatur of the award and reinstatement of the judicial action, as the statute's plain text reflects legislative intent to deter fee nonpayment as a tactic to evade without carving out discretion for courts to cure minor delays; the criticized the majority's remedial flexibility as undermining the provision's deterrent purpose, even if risking preemption under the . In McHugh v. Protective Life Ins. Co. (August 30, 2021), Jenkins wrote a , joined by Corrigan, affirming the majority's extension of statutory protections against lapse to pre-2013 policies but emphasizing that the court's interpretation rested on the statute's remedial aims rather than retroactivity concerns, while cautioning against overbroad application that could disrupt settled contract expectations. Over his tenure, Jenkins authored a limited number of opinions—five in the 2024–2025 term alone, split between civil and criminal matters—reflecting his recent appointment and the court's collegial dynamics, where he rarely dissented and aligned with the majority in nearly all cases, consistent with the bench's composition.

Judicial approach and record

Philosophy and methodology

Jenkins has eschewed a singular, overarching , instead advocating for a methodical, case-specific that prioritizes thorough of the facts and governing . In a 2022 conversation, he stated, "I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all judicial ," underscoring his preference for adaptability over doctrinal rigidity. He has reflected that his perspectives have "evolved in [his] thinking over the years," attributing this to accumulated experience across prosecutorial, trial, appellate, and roles. Central to his methodology is the integration of practical deliberation and collegiality. Jenkins has highlighted the Supreme Court's collaborative process, noting, "We have a very collegial court, and we spend a lot of time talking through the cases," which facilitates nuanced application of legal principles to real-world contexts. He emphasizes that "you have to really dig into the facts of the case and the law that applies," reflecting a fact-bound, precedent-respecting approach honed during his prior service as a judge and state appellate justice. Jenkins also incorporates the human element into his interpretive framework, viewing life experiences as tools to "illuminate the fabric of the law" during deliberations. He has articulated that "the law is about people and for people," suggesting that diverse backgrounds enhance understanding of a decision's societal impacts, particularly in areas like civil rights and policing. This perspective aligns with his in a Fourth Amendment case, where he joined four colleagues in stressing the need to consider minority community perceptions when assessing detention reasonableness. Analyses of his tenure indicate a balanced record in civil matters, with 11 votes to affirm and 11 to reverse lower courts as of early 2022, alongside authoring majority opinions and concurrences that demonstrate fidelity to statutory text and procedural norms without evident ideological skew. Despite extensive judicial service exceeding 35 years, Jenkins has not publicly outlined a comprehensive jurisprudential , consistent with his stated aversion to formulaic ideologies.

Criticisms and evaluations

Justice Jenkins received the highest rating of "exceptionally well qualified" from the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation prior to his 2020 confirmation to the Supreme Court. His prior judicial service, including as a and appellate , was described as demonstrating a moderate approach, with decisions reflecting balanced application of law rather than ideological extremes. Analyses of his early Supreme Court tenure highlight consistent alignment with the court's majority, participating in 25 civil cases through mid-2022 and joining the majority in 100% of them. In those cases, he cast an even split of 11 votes to affirm and 11 to reverse decisions, suggesting neither an unusually deferential nor aggressive stance toward outcomes. Jenkins authored only three civil opinions during this period—one majority and two concurrences—indicating a limited role in shaping precedential language relative to his colleagues. One notable point of contention arose from a 2016 appellate decision authored by Jenkins, which held that two lawsuits challenging California's K-12 education funding lacked constitutional grounding under the state equal protection clause. Education advocates criticized the ruling for obstructing efforts to compel greater state investment in under-resourced schools, arguing it prioritized procedural barriers over substantive equity claims. The decision aligned with established precedents limiting judicial intervention in funding allocations but drew opposition from groups seeking broader interpretations of educational rights. No widespread patterns of reversal of Jenkins' own rulings or ethical controversies have been documented in his judicial career.

Personal life and legacy

Family and personal identity

Martin Jenkins was born on November 12, 1953, in , . He was raised in the city's Lakeview neighborhood, where he assisted his father—a for the city and county of —in janitorial work at office buildings and churches during his youth. Limited public information exists regarding other family members, as Jenkins has maintained privacy about his personal relationships. Jenkins is African American, marking him as only the third Black man to serve on the California Supreme Court. He publicly identifies as gay, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ justice on the state's highest court upon his 2020 confirmation; he has described managing his as among the greatest challenges of his life. Jenkins is also a practicing Catholic, and he has reflected on reconciling his faith with his and racial identity.

Recognition and retirement

Jenkins has received multiple awards recognizing his judicial service and ethical conduct. In 1998, he was awarded the St. Thomas More Award by the St. Thomas More Society of for his distinguished record of service and dedication to his church, profession, and community. Upon graduating from the School of Law in 1980, he received the Judge Harold J. Haley Award for exceptional distinction in scholarship, character, and professional promise. In 2018, the University of San Francisco conferred upon him an honorary degree. Further honors include the 2021 Award from the American Bar Association's Commission on and , acknowledging his contributions as the first openly gay African American justice on the California Supreme Court. In 2022, the presented him with the Award for Professionalism and Ethics, highlighting his exemplary professionalism. On October 9, 2025, Jenkins announced his retirement from the California Supreme Court, effective October 31, 2025, after five years of service on the court and over 35 years of total judicial experience. In his statement, he described serving on the state's highest court as "a better capstone to my career on the bench than I could have ever imagined." Post-retirement, Jenkins intends to participate in cases where he has heard oral arguments to assist in their resolution. His departure creates a vacancy to be filled by Governor , marking the governor's fifth appointment to the court.

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